Pharmaceutical packaging apparatus, method of determining remaining quantity of pharmaceutical packaging paper and pharmaceutical packaging paper roll

ABSTRACT

Medicine packaging apparatuses and methods for accurately determining a remaining sheet amount of a medicine packaging sheet are described. The apparatus includes: a roll support section to which a core tube of a medicine packaging sheet roll is attached; a sensor disposed in the roll support section for outputting a count value according to a rotation amount; a wireless reader-writer unit for writing information to a core tube IC tag and reading said information; an information generation section for generating information to be written to the core tube IC tag; a remaining sheet amount estimation section for estimating a current amount of remaining sheet based on the information and dimensional information of the core tube; and a controller which selectively performs an operation if a reference time-point count value is not yet written to the core tube IC tag and another operation if the count value is already written thereto.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of the U.S. patent application Ser.No. 17/076,589 filed Oct. 21, 2020 entitled Pharmaceutical PackagingApparatus, Method Of Determining Remaining Quantity Of PharmaceuticalPackaging Paper And Pharmaceutical Packaging Paper Roll, which is acontinuation of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/262,588 filedJan. 30, 2019 entitled Pharmaceutical Packaging Apparatus, Method OfDetermining Remaining Quantity Of Pharmaceutical Packaging Paper AndPharmaceutical Packaging Paper Roll (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,843,835 B2issued Nov. 24, 2020), which is a divisional of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/245,074 filed Aug. 23, 2016 entitled PharmaceuticalPackaging Apparatus, Method Of Determining Remaining Quantity OfPharmaceutical Packaging Paper And Pharmaceutical Packaging Paper Roll(now U.S. Pat. No. 10,227,153 B2 issued Mar. 12, 2019), which is acontinuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/780,453 filed Sep. 25, 2015 entitled Pharmaceutical PackagingApparatus, Method Of Determining Remaining Quantity Of PharmaceuticalPackaging Paper And Pharmaceutical Packaging Paper Roll (now U.S Pat.No. 9,457,924 B2 issued Oct. 4, 2016), which is a U.S. national phaseapplication under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application SerialNo. PCT/JP2014/057405, filed on Mar. 18, 2014 entitled PharmaceuticalPackaging Apparatus, Method Of Determining Remaining Quantity OfPharmaceutical Packaging Paper, And Pharmaceutical Packaging Paper Roll,which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§ 119 to Japan Patent ApplicationNo. 2013-061923, filed on Mar. 25, 2013, and to Japan Patent ApplicationNo. 2013-105104, filed May 17, 2013, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to medicine packaging apparatuses whichpackage medicine by one package using packaging sheet; medicinepackaging sheet remaining amount determination methods; and medicinepackaging sheet rolls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Patent Literature 1: JP-B 4564437 discloses a medicine dispensingapparatus serving as a medicine packaging apparatus which packagesmedicine such as tablets and powders by one package using a medicinepackaging sheet while printing patient's name, time and date for takingmedicines, etc. on the medicine packaging sheet.

The medicine dispensing apparatus of the Patent Literature 1 uses amedicine packaging sheet roll as a supply source of a medicine packagingsheet for packaging the medicine. The medicine packaging sheet isoverlapped with an ink ribbon at a location of a printing head, so thatthe printing head prints the patient's name, time and date of taking themedicines, etc. The printed medicine packaging sheet is then folded intotwo so that the folded sheet has its open end facing upward to catch onepackage amount of the medicine such as tablets and powders.

If the apparatus is capable of indicating an amount of medicinepackaging sheet remaining in the medicine packaging sheet roll (aremaining amount of a rolled material), the user should be able to knowhow many more packages he/she will be able to make by using theremaining medicine packaging sheet, and therefore they can plan for abest way which will minimize wasted amount in the medicine packagingsheet.

The remaining amount of the medicine packaging sheet can be obtained bysubtracting the length which has been used from the original length ofthe medicine packaging sheet roll. A problem here is that there arealways personal differences among human operators in the amount whencutting the medicine packaging sheet roll at an end of the roll at thetime of manufacture; in other words, the original length of the roll isnot always the same. Also, there is always some differences betweenproduction lots. For these reasons, it is impossible to determine aprecise remainder although it is possible to get an approximate lengthof the remainder. This is because the rolls are always made to have someextra length over a specified length to compensate for non-exact natureof the roll cutting operation.

A remaining amount of the medicine packaging sheet can also be obtainedby another method: as the medicine packaging sheet is unwound, an amountof rotation of the medicine packaging sheet roll is monitored todetermine the diameter of the medicine packaging sheet roll, and fromthis diameter and a thickness of the medicine packaging sheet, it ispossible to calculate the remaining amount. A problem here, however, isthat the thickness of the medicine packaging sheet which is required inthis method is not a thickness of the sheet itself, but a thicknesswhich includes layers of air between layers of medicine packaging sheetlaminated in the form of a roll.

However, the layers of air can vary depending on many different factorssuch as a tension of sheet when manufacturing the medicine packagingsheet roll, so it is impossible to know an exact thickness with accuratethickness of the layers of air. For these reasons, it has been difficultto let the user know an exact number of packages he/she can make fromthe remaining amount of sheet.

In view of the above aforementioned situations, embodiments of thepresent invention provides a medicine packaging apparatus, a medicinepackaging sheet remaining amount determination method, and a medicinepackaging sheet roll, for accurately determining a remaining amount ofmedicine packaging sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present inventionprovides a medicine packaging apparatus which includes: a roll supportsection having a rotating shaft portion to which a core tube of amedicine packaging sheet roll is attached; a rotation amount informationoutputting section for an output of rotation amount information whichindicates a rotation amount of the rotating shaft portion; aninformation writing/reading section for writing information to andreading the written information from a storage medium provided insidethe core tube attached to the roll support section; an informationgeneration section for generating, as information are written to thestorage medium, rotation amount information as of referencesheet-remaining amount timing which is the rotation amount informationupon unwinding of a packaging sheet by a predetermined length from themedicine packaging sheet roll at a reference time-point; one or a pluralpieces of rotation amount information as of individual currentsheet-remaining amount obtaining timings each of which is the rotationamount information upon unwinding of the packaging sheet by thepredetermined length from the medicine packaging sheet roll at apackaging sheet in-use time-point after the reference time-point; and anamount of sheet used from the reference time-point through the packagingsheet in-use time-point; and a remaining sheet amount estimation sectionfor estimating a current amount of remaining sheet based on the rotationamount information as of reference sheet-remaining amount timing, therotation amount information as of individual current sheet-remainingamount obtaining timing, the amount of sheet used from the referencetime-point through the packaging sheet in-use time-point, anddimensional information of the core tube.

According to the arrangement described above, a current amount ofremaining sheet is estimated based on the rotation amount information asof reference sheet-remaining amount timing, the rotation amountinformation as of individual current sheet-remaining amount obtainingtiming, the amount of sheet used from the reference time-point throughthe packaging sheet in-use time-point, and dimensional information ofthe core tube. Therefore, there is no need for using the thickness ofthe medicine packaging sheet or the layers of air in calculation of theremaining amount, and thus, it is possible to show the user an accurateamount of the remaining sheet.

Also, the medicine packaging apparatus according to the presentinvention includes: a roll support section including a rotating shaftportion to which a core tube of a medicine packaging sheet roll isattached; a rotation amount information outputting section for an outputof rotation amount of the rotating shaft portion; an informationgeneration section for generating: a first rotation amount uponunwinding of a predetermined length of a packaging sheet from themedicine packaging sheet roll which has a first remaining amount of thepackaging sheet; a second rotation amount upon unwinding of thepredetermined length of the packaging sheet from the medicine packagingsheet roll which has a second remaining amount of the packaging sheet,the second remaining amount being a smaller amount than the firstamount; and an amount of used sheet which is a difference between thefirst amount and the second amount; a communications section whichwrites/reads information generated by the information generation sectionto/from a storage medium provided in the core tube; and a remainingsheet amount calculation section for calculating an amount of remainingsheet after the packaging sheet is unwound by the predetermined lengthfrom the medicine packaging sheet roll which has the second remainingamount of the packaging sheet, based on information read by thecommunications section and dimensional information of the core tube.

According to the arrangement described above, calculation of an amountof remaining sheet after the packaging sheet is unwound by thepredetermined length from the medicine packaging sheet roll which hasthe second remaining amount of the packaging sheet is based on the firstrotation amount, the second rotation amount, the amount of used sheetand the dimensional information of the core tube. Therefore, there is noneed for using the thickness of the medicine packaging sheet or thelayers of air in calculation of the remaining amount, and it is possibleto show the user an accurate amount of the remaining sheet.

The apparatus may further include a controller which performs anoperation if the rotation amount information as of referencesheet-remaining amount timing or the above-defined first rotation amountis not yet written to the storage medium, and performs another operationif the information or the first rotation amount is already writtenthereto.

In one embodiment, if the rotation amount information, as of referencesheet-remaining amount timing or the above-defined first rotationamount, is not yet written to the storage medium, the controllerperforms a process of obtaining rotation amount information each timethe packaging sheet is unwound from the medicine packaging sheet roll bythe predetermined length until a latest rotation amount information iswithin a predetermined range with respect to a previous rotation amountinformation for a predetermined number of times, whereupon thecontroller moves to a process of obtaining the rotation amountinformation as of reference sheet-remaining amount timing or theabove-mentioned first rotation amount.

As the process of obtaining the rotation amount information, as ofreference sheet-remaining amount timing or the above-defined firstrotation amount, the controller may perform a process of: obtainingrotation amount information for a plurality of times each time thepackaging sheet is unwound from the medicine packaging sheet roll by thepredetermined length; calculating an average value or a mode value ofthem and setting the calculated value as rotation amount information asof a predetermined unwinding timing; and then performs a process usingthis rotation amount information as the rotation amount information asof reference sheet-remaining amount timing or the above-defined firstrotation amount.

In another embodiment, if the rotation amount information as ofreference sheet-remaining amount timing or the above-defined firstrotation amount is already written to the storage medium but said one orplural pieces of rotation amount information as of individual currentsheet-remaining amount obtaining timings or the above-defined secondrotation amount, which are to be used in estimation of the remainingsheet amount, are not, then the controller performs a process ofobtaining rotation amount information as of individual currentsheet-remaining amount obtaining timing or the above-defined secondrotation amount and writing it to the storage medium at a time when thepackaging sheet is unwound from the medicine packaging sheet roll by thepredetermined length, for a single or a plurality of times, whereas ifthe rotation amount information as of reference sheet-remaining amounttiming or the above-defined first rotation amount is already written tothe storage medium and said one or plural pieces of rotation amountinformation as of individual current sheet-remaining amount obtainingtiming or the above-defined second rotation amount for use in theestimation are also written, then the controller performs a dataupdating process of obtaining rotation amount information as ofindividual current sheet-remaining amount obtaining timing or theabove-defined second rotation amount each time the packaging sheet isunwound from the medicine packaging sheet roll by the predeterminedlength, and using the obtained information to overwrite one or an oldestpiece of rotation amount information as of individual currentsheet-remaining amount obtaining timing or the above-defined secondrotation amount in the storage medium.

Information sending/receiving between the storage medium and theinformation reading section may be made via antennas disposed in theroll support section. The antennas may have their faces disposed inplanes extending across an axis of the rotating shaft portion.

Further, the medicine packaging apparatus according yet to anotherembodiment of the present invention is a medicine packaging apparatusfor packaging medicine by one package by using a medicine packagingsheet roll, and includes: a rotation amount information outputtingsection for an output of rotation amount information indicating arotation amount of a rotating shaft portion to which a core tube of themedicine packaging sheet roll is attached; a used-amount informationoutputting section for an output of used-amount information indicatingan unwound amount of the packaging sheet of the medicine packaging sheetroll; an information reading section for reading rotation amountinformation as of reference sheet-remaining amount timing, which isrotation amount information indicating a rotation amount of the coretube of the medicine packaging sheet roll upon unwinding of the medicinepackaging sheet roll by a predetermined length at a referencetime-point, from a storage medium provided in the core tube of themedicine packaging sheet roll; an information generation section forgeneration of: rotation amount information as of individual currentsheet-remaining amount obtaining timing which includes one or a pluralpieces of rotation amount information each indicating a rotation amountof the core tube of the medicine packaging sheet roll upon unwinding ofthe medicine packaging sheet roll by the predetermined length atpackaging sheet in-use time-point after the reference time-point; and anamount of used sheet from the reference time-point through the packagingsheet in-use time-point; and a remaining sheet amount estimation sectionfor estimating a current amount of remaining sheet based on the rotationamount information as of reference sheet-remaining amount timing, therotation amount information as of individual current sheet-remainingamount obtaining timing, the amount of sheet use from the referencetime-point through the packaging sheet in-use time-point, anddimensional information of the core tube.

In this embodiment, a current amount of remaining sheet is estimatedbased on the rotation amount information as of reference sheet-remainingamount timing, the rotation amount information as of individual currentsheet-remaining amount obtaining timing, the amount of sheet use fromthe reference time-point through the packaging sheet in-use time-point,and dimensional information of the core tube. Therefore, there is noneed for using the thickness of the medicine packaging sheet or thelayers of air in calculation of the remaining amount, and it is possibleto show the user an accurate amount of the remaining sheet.

The apparatus may make comparison between an amount of sheet required tofinish a medicine packaging task and the remaining sheet amount, andissue a warning if a comparison result is out of an acceptable range.

The medicine packaging sheet roll according to the embodiments of thepresent invention is a medicine packaging sheet roll for use in theabove-described medicine packaging apparatuses, and has a storage mediumin the core tube. The storage medium may store dimensional informationof the core tube.

In the medicine packaging sheet roll, the core tube may include an innertube portion and an outer tube portion, and the storage medium may bedisposed in a gap between the inner tube portion and the outer tubeportion.

A medicine packaging sheet remaining amount determination methodaccording to the present invention is a medicine packaging sheetremaining amount determination method of a medicine packaging apparatusfor packaging medicine by one package by using a medicine packagingsheet roll. The method includes: a step of obtaining from a storagemedium provided in a core tube of the medicine packaging sheet roll,rotation amount information as of reference sheet-remaining amounttiming, which is rotation amount information indicating a rotationamount of the core tube of the medicine packaging sheet roll uponunwinding of the medicine packaging sheet roll by a predetermined lengthat a reference time-point; rotation amount information as of individualcurrent sheet-remaining amount obtaining timing which includes one or aplural pieces of rotation amount information each indicating a rotationamount of the core tube of the medicine packaging sheet roll uponunwinding of the medicine packaging sheet roll by the predeterminedlength at a packaging sheet in-use time-point after the referencetime-point; and an amount of sheet use from the reference time-pointthrough the packaging sheet in-use time-point; and a step of estimatinga current amount of remaining sheet based on the rotation amountinformation as of reference sheet-remaining amount timing, the rotationamount information as of individual current sheet-remaining amountobtaining timing, the amount of used sheet from the reference time-pointthrough the packaging sheet in-use time-point, and dimensionalinformation of the core tube.

According to this embodiment, a current amount of remaining sheet isestimated based on the rotation amount information as of referencesheet-remaining amount timing, the rotation amount information as ofindividual current sheet-remaining amount obtaining timing, the amountof used sheet from the reference time-point through the packaging sheetin-use time-point, and dimensional information of the core tube.Therefore, there is no need for using the thickness of the medicinepackaging sheet or the layers of air in calculation of the remainingamount, and thus, it is possible to show the user an accurate amount ofthe remaining sheet.

Also, a medicine packaging sheet remaining amount determination methodaccording to the present invention is a medicine packaging sheetremaining amount determination method of a medicine packaging apparatusfor packaging medicine by one package by using a medicine packagingsheet roll. The method includes: a step of obtaining, from a storagemedium provided in a core tube of the medicine packaging sheet roll, afirst rotation amount which is a rotation amount of the core tube of themedicine packaging sheet roll upon unwinding of a predetermined lengthof a packaging sheet from the medicine packaging sheet roll which has afirst remaining amount of the packaging sheet, a second rotation amountwhich is the rotation amount of the core tube upon unwinding of thepredetermined length of the packaging sheet from the medicine packagingsheet roll which has a second remaining amount of the packaging sheet asa smaller amount than the first amount, and an amount of used sheetwhich is a difference between the first amount and the second amount;and a step of calculating a remaining sheet amount which is an amountafter the packaging sheet is unwound by the predetermined length fromthe medicine packaging sheet roll which has the second remaining amountof the packaging sheet, based on the first rotation amount, the secondrotation amount, the amount of sheet use and dimensional information ofthe core tube.

According to the arrangement described above, calculation of an amountof remaining sheet after the packaging sheet is unwound by thepredetermined length from the medicine packaging sheet roll which hasthe second remaining amount of the packaging sheet is based on the firstrotation amount, the second rotation amount, the amount of sheet use anddimensional information of the core tube. Therefore, there is no needfor using the thickness of the medicine packaging sheet or the layers ofair in calculation of the remaining amount, and thus, it is possible toshow the user an accurate amount of the remaining sheet.

Also, a medicine packaging apparatus according to the present inventionis for packaging medicine and making a print using an ink ribbon rolland a medicine packaging sheet roll. The apparatus includes: a gapmaking section for making a first state in which a printing head and abackup section opposed thereto are spaced from each other, and a secondstate in which they are further spaced than in the first state; awinding controller for controlling a winding of an ink ribbon to removea slack in the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon roll in the second state;and a controller for making the second state and performing a control ofthe winding of the ink ribbon upon determination that there is apossibility for the medicine packaging sheet roll to be replaced.

The apparatus may include a printing and packaging unit including aprinting section which makes use of the ink ribbon roll and the medicinepackaging sheet roll, and a packaging section which performs a medicinepackaging operation. In this embodiment, the printing and packaging unitis movable out of a main body of the apparatus toward a front side, andthe controller makes the second state and performs the control of thewinding of the ink ribbon upon detection that the printing and packagingunit is moved from within main body of the apparatus toward the frontside and determination that there is a possibility for the medicinepackaging sheet roll to be replaced.

In another embodiment, the controller may determine that there is apossibility for the medicine packaging sheet roll to be replaced if itbecomes unable to read information from a storage medium through aninformation reading section which reads information from the storagemedium that is disposed in a core tube of the medicine packaging sheetroll.

The apparatus may further include a detection section for detectingwhether or not the core tube is removed from a rotating shaft portionserving as a rotation shaft for the core tube. In this embodiment, thecontroller determines the possibility of replacing the medicinepackaging sheet roll upon detection via the detection section that thecore tube is removed from the rotating shaft portion.

The apparatus may further include a detection section for detecting anend of the medicine packaging sheet roll. In the present embodiment, thecontroller determines the possibility of replacing the medicinepackaging sheet roll upon detection of the end of the medicine packagingsheet roll via the detection section.

Also, a medicine packaging apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is a medicine packaging apparatus for packagingmedicine and making a print using an ink ribbon roll and a medicinepackaging sheet roll. The apparatus includes: a gap making section formaking a first state in which a printing head and a backup sectionopposed thereto are spaced from each other by a first distance, and asecond state in which they are spaced from each other by a seconddistance which is longer than the first distance; a winding controllerfor controlling a winding of an ink ribbon to remove a slack in the inkribbon in the ink ribbon roll in the second state; and a controller formaking the second state and performing a control of the winding of theink ribbon upon determination that there is a possibility for the inkribbon roll to be replaced.

There may be an arrangement that the printing and packaging unitincludes a printing section which makes use of the ink ribbon roll andthe medicine packaging sheet roll, and a packaging section which makes amedicine packaging operation, and the printing and packaging unit ismovable out of a main body of the apparatus toward a front side. In thisembodiment, the controller makes the second state and performs thecontrol of the winding of the ink ribbon upon detecting that theprinting and packaging unit is moved from inside of the apparatus mainbody toward the front side and determines that there is a possibilityfor the medicine packaging sheet roll to be replaced.

The apparatus may further include a detection section for detecting anend of the ink ribbon roll. In this embodiment, the controllerdetermines that there is a possibility for the ink ribbon roll to bereplaced upon detection of the end of the ribbon roll via the detectionsection.

There may also be an arrangement that a supply core of the ink ribbonroll receives a braking operation in the second state when the controlof the winding is performed to the ink ribbon whereas the brakingoperation is ceased when changing from the second state to the firststate.

The present invention provides accurate determination of the remainingamount of sheet in the medicine packaging apparatus. Therefore, the useris advantageously informed with a quantity of packages he/she will beable to make using the remaining medicine packaging sheet, and can planfor a best way to minimize wasted amount in the medicine packagingsheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appendedfigures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view which shows a schematic structure of amedicine packaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view which shows a printing and packaging unitincluded in the medicine packaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printing and packaging unit shown inFIG. 2 , with a cover of an ink ribbon cassette and other components areremoved therefrom.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view which shows a back side of a printingsection inside the printing and packaging unit shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram which shows a control system for ink ribbonoperation in the medicine packaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a flowchart which shows an overview of a printing process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart which shows an overview of an ink ribbonoperation.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view which shows a core tube and a roll supportsection of a medicine packaging sheet roll according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9A illustrates a perspective view of a roll support section; andFIG. 9B illustrates a perspective view showing an internal structure ofthe roll support section.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram which shows a control system related to asheet remaining amount estimation process in the medicine packagingapparatus shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view which shows a sheet remaining amountestimation process in the medicine packaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .

FIGS. 12A-12D represent explanatory views showing a relationship betweena packaging sheet used amount at a reference time-point and a packagingsheet used amount at a packaging sheet in-use time-point in the medicinepackaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 13 is a flowchart which shows an example of control performed whenthe printing and packaging unit shown in FIG. 2 is drawn out of anapparatus main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the attached drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 , a medicinepackaging apparatus 1 according to a present embodiment has a main body,which includes: a medicine housing dispensing unit 11 for housingmedicine and dispensing of the medicine by one package in accordancewith prescription; hoppers 12, 13 for receiving the medicine dispensedby one package; and a printing and packaging unit 4 to which a medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 and an ink ribbon cassette 3 are detachablyattached for making print on a medicine packaging sheet S supplied fromthe medicine packaging sheet roll 200 and packaging by one package themedicine supplied from the hoppers 12, 13 by using this medicinepackaging sheet S. In order for easy replacement of the ink ribboncassette 3 and the medicine packaging sheet roll 200, the printing andpackaging unit 4 is made movable, outward from the apparatus main body,by means of rails, hinges, etc. When the printing and packaging unit 4is moved from inside the apparatus main body toward outside the movementcan be detected by a detection switch 422 for example.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views illustrating the printing andpackaging unit 4 with the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 and the inkribbon cassette 3 attached thereto. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 also show apackaging section 45 of the printing and packaging unit 4. The packagingsection 45 is an operation unit which introduces medicine from anopening of the medicine packaging sheet S, and then thermally seals themedicine packaging sheet S thereby sealing the medicine. The medicinepackaging sheet S hooks onto three guide shafts 4 a′, passes throughbetween a back-up roller 4 b and a printing head 4 e, and is passedthrough to hook onto a guide shaft 4 c. The ink ribbon cassette 3incorporates therein an ink ribbon R, which is guided by a tape guide ofthe printing and packaging unit 4, passed through between the back-uproller 4 b and the printing head 4 e, then moved away from the medicinepackaging sheet S after printing, and returned to the ink ribboncassette 3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the printing and packaging unit 4 seenfrom a back side. As shown in this figure, a unit in which the printinghead 4 e is mounted is swingably supported around a shaft 407.Specifically, a link member 406 and the printing head 4 e are attachedto the shaft 407, and as a head solenoid 405 is turned ON, the linkmember 406 is actuated to pivot the printing head 4 e around the shaft407. The printing head 4 e moves toward the back-up roller 4 b andpresses the ink ribbon R onto the medicine packaging sheet S so thatprinting operation can be started.

Also as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , rotatable curved guide rollers 45b, 45 c are disposed to turn the transporting direction of the medicinepackaging sheet S just before an unfolding guide 45 a of the packagingsection 45, at a position near the guide shaft 4 c (on the downstreamside in terms of the transporting direction of the medicine packagingsheet S) which guides the medicine packaging sheet S. On a back side ofthe unfolding guide 45 a, there is provided a hopper for introducing themedicine to the medicine packaging sheet S. The unfolding guide 45 aunfolds the two-folded medicine packaging sheet S, thereby forming anopening for the hopper to insert its medicine outlet (nozzle). Thepackaging section 45 has a pair of heater rollers 45 d, 45 e below theunfolding guide 45 a. An unillustrated traveling roller is providedbelow the heater rollers 45 d, 45 e. The heater rollers 45 d, 45 e aredriven to rotate by an unillustrated drive mechanism constituted bymotors, linear gears, intermittent gears, and others. The heater rollers45 d, 45 e can move the medicine packaging sheet S at a traveling speedV2 which will be described later.

The printing and packaging unit 4 includes a supply-side support shaft41, which supports a supply core 31 of the ink ribbon cassette 3, and isrotated as the supply core 31 rotates. A winding-side support shaft 42supports a winding core 32 of the ink ribbon cassette 3, androtationally drives the winding core 32. The ink ribbon cassette 3 isattached to a storage section, on an outside of which two platy antennas43, 44 are provided. The two antennas 43, 44 have their radio wavetransmission/reception surfaces opposed to a circumferential surface ofthe supply-side support shaft 41 (opposed to a circumferential surfaceof the supply core 31 when the ink ribbon cassette 3 is installed), withthe radio wave transmission/reception surfaces facing in mutuallycrossing directions (desirably being disposed at a 90° angle).

As shown in FIG. 4 , the winding-side suport shaft 42 is rotated by awinding motor 401 and a driving force transmission 402. The drivingforce transmission 402 has a torque limiter 403, which shuts offtransmission of the driving force to idle the winding motor 401 if thewinding-side support shaft 42 comes under an excessive amount of loadbeyond a predetermined level. Such a load occurs when the ink ribbon Rpressed by the printing head 4 e is dragged by a running of the medicinepackaging sheet S, which leads the ink ribbon R to try to run at thesame speed as of the running speed of the medicine packaging sheet S(traveling speed V2). The winding-side support shaft 42 further has adisc section 404 a of a rotary encoder (rotation detection section) 404for detecting a rotating state of the winding-side support shaft 42. Therotating state of the disc section 404 a is detected by an opticalsensor which is disposed on a circuit board 404 b of the rotary encoder404. The rotary encoder 404 detects the rotation of the winding-sidesupport shaft 42.

The supply-side support shaft 41 also has a disc section 411 of a rotaryencoder 410 for detecting a rotating state of the supply-side supportshaft 41. The rotating state of the disc section 411 is detected by anoptical sensor which is disposed on a circuit board 412 of the rotaryencoder 410. The rotary encoder 410 detects the rotation of thesupply-side support shaft 41. Further, the supply-side support shaft 41has a clutch 41 a provided by an electromagnetic clutch for example, sothat the supply-side support shaft 41 can be switched between a freerotating state and a braking state. The supply-side support shaft 41 isnormally kept in the braking state when printing is not performed. Theback-up roller 4 b has a rotary encoder 4 f for detecting its rotatingstate.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a positional relationship between theantennas 43, 44 and the supply core 31, together with a control systemfor the medicine packaging apparatus 1. The antennas 43, 44 areconnected to a wireless reader-writer 54. The wireless reader-writer 54,which is controlled by a controller 5, reads information from an IC tag(e.g., RFID: Radio Frequency Identification) 100 disposed in the supplycore 31 inside the ink ribbon cassette 3, and also writes information tothe IC tag 100.

The controller 5 is provided by a microcomputer, functions as a medicinedispensing controller 51 which controls the medicine dispenser unit 11,and also functions as a rotation speed controller 52 for thewinding-side support shaft 42 and a writing information output section53.

The rotation speed controller 52 controls the winding motor 401 whichrotates the winding core 32 (the winding-side support shaft 42) of theink ribbon cassette 3 so that a traveling speed V1 of the ink ribbon Rin the winding direction will be greater than a traveling speed V2 ofthe medicine packaging sheet S, i.e., V1>V2, based on a used length ofthe ink ribbon R that is a piece of information read from the IC tag100. In the present embodiment, the speed V1 is set to 115% of the speedV2; however, a different value other than 115% may be used. In the inkribbon cassette 3, there is a constant relationship between the usedlength of the ink ribbon R, the diameter of the remaining roll of theink ribbon R which is remaining on the supply core 31, and the diameterof the would roll of the ink ribbon R which is already wound around thewinding core 32.

Based on this constant relationship, the rotation speed of thewinding-side support shaft 42 can be changed as the used length of theink ribbon R changes. In this way, it is possible to rotate the windingmotor 401 at a speed that moves the ink ribbon R at the speed V1. Also,the torque limiter 403 makes it possible to let the ink ribbon R run atthe traveling speed V2 of the medicine packaging sheet S while givingthe ink ribbon R a certain amount of tension when the head solenoid 405is turned ON (under a state where the printing head 4 e presses the inkribbon R).

The torque limiter 403 is set to ON/OFF threshold values which areselected to satisfy the following conditions: more specifically, underthe printing state where the ink ribbon R is pulled by the medicinepackaging sheet S and is traveling at the speed V2, the ink ribbon R isallowed to travel at the speed V2 even if the ink ribbon R is pulled atthe speed V1. Once the printing is finished and the head solenoid 405 isturned OFF so that the ink ribbon R is no longer pulled by or runningtogether with the medicine packaging sheet S, the ink ribbon R is woundat the speed V1. Once the printing is finished, the winding motor 401 isstopped.

During the medicine packaging process, the ink ribbon R is consumed.This used length is added to an original used length at the start of themedicine packaging process, to obtain a total used length, and based onthis total, the above-mentioned rotation speed is re-calculated. Also,the used length of the ink ribbon R during the medicine packagingprocess can be calculated from a winding speed and winding time of theink ribbon R. It should be noted that in a new ink ribbon roll 30, theIC tag 100 stores information which indicates that the used length iszero.

The IC tag 100 can also be used to store such pieces of informationindicating a kind (color, monochrome, etc.) of the ink ribbon R, anouter diameter or a radius of the core (assuming that the supply core 31and the winding core 32 have the same outer diameter and the radius), athickness of the ink ribbon R, etc. These pieces of information allowfor operating the apparatus accordingly in a case where the core havinga different outer radius and/or an ink ribbon R having a differentthickness are utilized. A winding roll size (assume it is a radius) asthe ink ribbon R is being wound around the winding core 32 can beobtained by adding a thickness of a laminated layer of the ink ribbon(thickness of ink ribbon R×number of windings) to a radius of thewinding core 32.

It should be noted here that the winding core 32 is not provided withthe antennas 43, 44, or it is not possible to read the outer diameter orthe radius of the winding core 32 from the IC tag 100; therefore, whencalculating the winding roll size from the core outer diameter orradius, an outer diameter or a radius of the supply core 31 stored inthe IC tag 100 is utilized.

The apparatus may include a memory 55 to store a data table 55 acontaining information about the rotation speed with respect to the usedlength of the ink ribbon R. In this case, the rotation speed controller52 provides the data table 55 a with information indicating a usedlength of the ink ribbon R as a read-out address, and obtains rotationspeed information which is outputted from the data table 55 a. As theink ribbon R is consumed during the medicine packaging process, thisused length is added to the original used length at the start of themedicine packaging process to obtain the total used length, and theobtained total used length is sequentially given to the data table 55 aas the read-out address to obtain new rotation speed information. Thedata table 55 a may be provided for each kind of the ink ribbon roll 30,with an arrangement that the kind of the ink ribbon roll 30 attached tothe medicine packaging apparatus is read from the IC tag 100.

Under the control provided by the rotation speed controller 52, a motorcontroller 56 controls driving of the winding motor 401. Morespecifically, the rotation of winding motor 401 is controlled so thatthe winding-side support shaft 42 will rotate at a rotation speed ω.

The writing information output section 53 outputs information about thetotal used length of the ink ribbon resulting from the use of the inkribbon R, to the wireless reader-writer 54. The wireless reader-writer54 writes this information to the IC tag 100. For example, the rotationspeed controller 52 gives sequentially the writing information outputsection 53 the total used length which is obtained by adding the usedlength of the ink ribbon R consumed in the medicine packaging process tothe original used length at the start of the medicine packaging process.Then, the writing information output section 53 supplies this total usedlength to the wireless reader-writer 54. The wireless reader-writer 54sequentially writes the total used length to the IC tag 100. From thenext time, the medicine packaging apparatus 1 may perform a printingoperation based on the used length of the ink ribbon R obtained from theIC tag 100.

Referring next to FIG. 6 , a flowchart illustrating an overview of theprinting process performed by the controller 5 is shown. The controller5 performs a bitmapping process from an image which shows the name ofthe patient, timing of administration, etc. (Step S1). Then, thecontroller 5 starts a process for making the heater rollers 45 d, 45 eto thermally seal the packages individually while moving the medicinepackaging sheet S (Step S2), and simultaneously therewith, determines ifthe packaging sheet has arrived at a predetermined location, i.e., if afront edge of an area in the medicine packaging sheet S to be used forthe printing is at the location of the printing head 4 e, from anoperation of the heater rollers 45 d, 45 e for example (Step S3). Upondetermination that the medicine packaging sheet S is at the startingpoint, the head solenoid 405 is turned ON (Step S4). As the headsolenoid 405 is turned ON, the printing head 4 e presses the ink ribbonR onto the packaging sheet, causing the ink ribbon R to travel at thespeed V2.

In the next step, the controller 5 sends printing data, obtained throughthe bitmapping process, to the printing head 4 e and thermally operatesthe printing head 4 e (Step S5). Then, the controller 5 determineswhether the medicine packaging sheet S has been moved to the end of theprinting area (Step S6); and if not, brings the process to Step S5; onthe other hand, if it is determined that the sheet has been movedcompletely, then the head solenoid 405 is turned OFF (Step S7). Thecontroller 5 then brings back the process to Step S1 where the printingcycle has to be continued.

With reference to FIG. 7 , a flowchart illustrating an overview of atravel control on the ink ribbon R performed during the above-describedprinting process is shown. The controller 5 reads the IC tag 100 andobtains information representing the used length of the ink ribbon R(Step S10), and based on this information, calculates a rotation speedfor the winding-side support shaft 42 to achieve the speed V1 (StepS11). Then, right upon the time when the head solenoid 405 is turned ONin the printing cycle shown in FIG. 6 , the controller 5 rotates thewinding-side support shaft 42 at the rotation speed ω which was obtainedin the calculation above, to wind the ink ribbon R (Step S12).

In the next step, the controller 5 counts output pulses from the rotaryencoder 4 f disposed in the back-up roller 4 b (Step S13), to determineif the ink ribbon R has been wound by the predetermined amount ofprinting area (Step S14). If the answer in Step S14 is NO, theabove-described determination cycle is continued, whereas if the answeris YES, the winding motor 401 is turned OFF to stop driving of thewinding-side support shaft 42, whereby the winding step of the inkribbon R is brought to an end (Step S15). Thereafter, the controller 5calculates a new used length based on the newly wound length of the inkribbon R, and writes this value to the IC tag 100 (Step S16).

As described further above, the information indicating a used length ofthe ink ribbon R is read from the IC tag 100 which is provided in thesupply core 31 of the ink ribbon roll 30 mounted detachably from the inkribbon cassette 3. Then, based on this information, the winding motor401 is controlled so that the winding-side support shaft 42 is providedwith the rotation speed ω which is the speed necessary for obtaining thespeed V1 that is faster than the traveling speed V2. This makes itpossible to wind the ink ribbon R without slack, without the need for atension bar. Therefore, there is no longer a need for disposing thetension bar in the medicine packaging apparatus 1, and there is nolonger a need for a task of routing the ink ribbon R on the tension bar.Also, the arrangement makes it possible to wind the ink ribbon R at aconstant speed rather than in an intermittent manner. This improvesprinting quality. Although the winding motor 401 is controlled so as togenerate the rotation speed ω in the winding-side support shaft 42, thetorque limiter 403 protects the ink ribbon R from coming under anexcessive tension during the printing step while allowing the ink ribbonR to run at the traveling speed V2 of the medicine packaging sheet S.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a core tube 201 of the medicine packagingsheet roll 200 mounted on a roll support section 2. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9Bare perspective views showing an internal structure of the roll supportsection 2.

The core tube 201 is constituted by an inner tube portion 201 a and anouter tube portion 201 b. The inner tube portion 201 a and the outertube portion 201 b have a gap between them, where there is disposed astorage medium, i.e., a core tube IC tag (provided by, e.g., a RFID:Radio Frequency Identification) 202. At a deep end of the core tube 201,there is provided a ring-shaped, strong magnetic member (iron piece) 201c, and at a front end portion of the core tube 201, a ring-shaped lid201 d closes the gap.

The roll support section 2 includes a fixed shaft portion 21 and arotating shaft portion 22 which rotates around the fixed shaft portion21. The fixed shaft portion 21 has its base-end side provided with a nut21 a threaded and tightened, whereby the roll support section 2 issecured to the medicine packaging apparatus 1. When setting the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 to the medicine packaging apparatus 1, the coretube 201 is fitted into the rotating shaft portion 22. The rotatingshaft portion 22 has a flange which has its surface provided with, e.g.,four magnets 22 a′ that are spaced equidistantly. Once the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 is mounted onto the roll support section 2, themagnets 22 a′ attract the strong magnetic member 201 c, thereby fixingthe core tube 201, and as the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 rotates,the rotating shaft portion 22 rotates.

The rotating shaft portion 22 has a gear section on its base end side.The gear section is engaged with a small gear of a motor which isprovided for braking the rotating shaft portion 22. The motor is an ACmotor which generates an appropriate braking force when an appropriateDC voltage is provided. According to this sheet tension adjustment ofthe medicine packaging sheet roll 200 by way of braking, it is possible,as disclosed in JP-B 12 909450 Gazette, to use a sensor which is made ofa magnet and a hole element to obtain a remaining diameter of themedicine packaging sheet roll 200, and provide step-wise adjustment ofthe DC voltage in accordance with the remaining diameter.

The fixed shaft portion 21 has a hollow structure, so it is possible tolay wires 29 therein. On a tip-end side of the fixed shaft portion 21, acircuit board support member 23 is fixed. The circuit board supportmember 23 supports a circuit board 24. The circuit board 24 is provided,on its one side (on the back-surface side of the circuit board 24 inFIG. 9B), a photo sensor 24 a, for example, which has a light emittingsection and a light receiving section. On the other hand, the circuitboard 24 is faced by an end surface of the rotating shaft portion 22,where there is formed twenty-four projections 22 b (shown by analternate long and two short dashes lines in FIG. 9B) in a circularpattern, so that as the rotating shaft portion 22 rotates, theprojections 22 b sequentially pass through between the light emittingsection and the light receiving section in the photo sensor 24 a. Thus,a rotation state of the rotating shaft portion 22 is detected by thephoto sensor 24 a. The controller 5 detects an output from the photosensor 24 a via the wires 29 and generates a count value, and thus it ispossible to know the rotation state of the rotating shaft portion 22.The photo sensor 24 a outputs the count value as rotation amountinformation which indicates an amount of rotation of the rotating shaftportion 22; however, the output is not limited to such a count value.

On the other surface of the circuit board 24, an antenna 25 is providedin a spiral shape across an axial direction of the rotating shaftportion 22 (an axial direction of the fixed shaft portion 21). Theantenna 25 is also connected to the wires 29. The circuit board supportmember 23 and the circuit board 24 are covered by a cap 22 c which isprovided on a tip side of the rotating shaft portion 22. Desirably, thecore tube IC tag 202 is disposed in such a fashion that its antennasurface does not make a cross with an extension surface along a surfaceon which the antenna 25 is formed.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view illustrating a configuration of thecontroller 5 as a sheet remaining amount estimation section 57. Awireless reader-writer (information reading section) 26 is controlled bythe controller 5, reads information from the core tube IC tag 202 andwrites information to the core tube IC tag 202. The information may beencoded or compressed before being written to the IC tag 202 in order toprevent illegal rewriting on the information.

The sheet remaining amount estimation section 57 has an informationgeneration section 57 a, which generates, as information to be writtento the core tube IC tag 202, a count value based on an input from thephoto sensor 24 a upon unwinding of the packaging sheet S from themedicine packaging sheet roll 200 by a predetermined length (e.g., 80 mmas a typical length for one package) at a reference time-point. In thepresent embodiment, this information represents rotation amountinformation as of reference sheet-remaining amount timing, and willhereinafter be known as the reference time-point count value (A). Thecontroller 5 can determine whether or not the packaging sheet S has beenunwound by the predetermined length, based on, e.g., the amount ofrotation of the heater rollers 45 d, 45 e.

The information generation section 57 a also generates a count valuebased on an output from the photo sensor 24 a each time the packagingsheet S is unwound from the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 by thepredetermined length at a packaging sheet in-use time-point after thereference time-point. In the present embodiment, this informationrepresents a plural pieces of rotation amount information as of aplurality of current sheet-remaining amount timings, and willhereinafter be known as the count value (B) representing a hundredcurrent-time counts. Further, the information generation section 57 agenerates a finished-package count (to be described later as α2), asinformation indicating an amount of sheet use from the referencetime-point to the packaging sheet in-use time-point. The currenttime-point count values need not necessarily be a plurality of valuesbut may be a single value representing the latest single package at alatest current sheet-remaining amount time-point. The rotation amountinformation is not limited to the above-mentioned count value. Also, theamount of sheet use from the reference time-point to the packaging sheetin-use time-point is not limited to the finished-package count, but maybe represented by a length of the sheet which was consumed, for example.

Referring next to FIGS. 12A-12 (D), a relationship between a used amountof the packaging sheet at a reference time-point and the used amount ofthe packaging sheet at a packaging sheet in-use time-point is shown. Thereference time-point is a point when the packaging sheet used amount isP. From this state, an amount for one package is unwound by an amount ofrotation of the core tube 201 (an amount of rotation from State (A) toState (B) in FIGS. 12A-12B), which represents the amount of rotation atthe reference sheet-remaining amount time-point (i.e., the referencetime-point count value (A)). The reference time-point count value (A) isused as x1 under a predetermined condition in mathematical expressionswhich will be described later. Likewise, the packaging sheet in-usetime-point is a point when the packaging sheet used amount is Q (Q>P).From this state, an amount for one package is unwound by an amount ofrotation of the core tube 201 (an amount of rotation from State (C) toState (D) in FIGS. 12C-12D), This represents the amount of rotation atthe current sheet-remaining amount time-point (i.e., the current-timepoint current value (B)). The current time-point count value (B) is usedas x2 under a predetermined condition in mathematical expressions whichwill be described later. A difference in the packaging sheet used amountbetween State (A) to State (C) in FIGS. 12A-12C represents the amount ofsheet use, and a quotient obtained by a division of the amount of sheetuse by a length of a single package is the finished-package count (α2).

The sheet remaining amount estimation section 57 uses the referencetime-point count value (A), the current time-point count value (B), thefinished-package count (α2) from the reference time-point to thepackaging sheet in-use time-point, and dimensional information of thecore tube 201 (outer size (diameter, radius), and outer circumference)to estimate a remaining amount of the medicine packaging sheet S whichexisted at the reference time-point; and from this estimated remainingamount of sheet at the reference time-point, performs a subtractingoperation based on the finished-package count, to estimate a currentamount of remaining sheet. The controller 5 is capable of using theestimated current amount of remaining sheet to display a quantity ofexpectable packages in a display section 10.

The controller 5 performs a process if the reference time-point countvalue is not yet written to the core tube IC tag 202, and performsanother process if the value is already written thereto.

In the following, the process of how to estimate the remaining sheetamount of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 will be described indetail. As information for estimating the remaining sheet amount, thesheet remaining amount estimation section 57 uses the count value (A) asan output from the photo sensor 24 a at the reference time-point, andthe count value (B) as an output from the photo sensor 24 a which ismade each time a predetermined amount of sheet unwinding is performedsince the reference time-point. Also, for improved accuracy in theestimation of the remaining sheet amount, the count value (B) isobtained each time, and the remaining sheet amount is calculated eachtime the value is obtained. Then, using an average value of, e.g., ahundred, results of the calculations of the remaining sheet amount, theremaining amount of the packaging sheet S is determined.

[Reference Time-Point Count Value: How to Obtain]

Upon receiving an electric power, the controller 5 reads informationfrom the core tube IC tag 202. If this information reading reveals thatthere is no reference time-point count value obtained, the process goesto a reference time-point detection preparation step as will bedescribed later in detail with reference to FIG. 11 , whereas if thereis a reference time-point count value already obtained but no remainingamount calculation information obtained yet, then the process goesfurther to a packaging sheet remaining amount calculation informationcollection step, and obtains a reference time-point count value (A).

[Calculation Method]

The remaining amount of sheet as represented by the quantity (y) ofpackages each made of a 80 mm slip of the sheet; the thickness w (mm) ofthe sheet; the diameter r (mm) of the core tube 201; and the count valuex (times) counted by the photo sensor 24 a each time the packaging sheetS is unwound by a predetermined amount, i.e., 80 mm; have an approximaterelationship given by Mathematical Expression 1 (MATH 1) shown below:Description will be given later on how to obtain this mathematicalexpression 1.

$\begin{matrix}{{wy} = {\frac{3666.9}{x^{2}} - {\frac{\left( {r - w} \right)^{2}}{320}\pi}}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}1} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

With y₁ representing the remaining package quantity (expressed as aquantity of 80 mm sheet slips) at a reference time-point; x₁ (aninteger) representing a count value obtained by the photo sensor 24 awhen the packaging sheet S is unwound by the predetermined length, i.e.,80 mm; and x₂ (an integer) representing a count value obtained by thephoto sensor 24 a after the packaging sheet S is unwound for a quantityof α2 packages expressed as a quantity of 80 mm sheet slips each by thepredetermined length, i.e., 80 mm, since the reference time-point, thefollowing Mathematical Expression 2 (MATH 2) and Mathematical Expression3 (MATH 3) are obtained. It should be noted here that in the above, thelength for a package and the predetermined length are both 80 mm;however, the length for a package and the predetermined length may bedifferent from the above.

$\begin{matrix}{{y_{1}w} = {\frac{3666.9}{x_{1}^{2}} - {\frac{\left( {r - w} \right)^{2}}{320}\pi}}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}2} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{\left( {y_{1} - \alpha_{2}} \right)w} = {\frac{3666.9}{x_{2}^{2}} - {\frac{\left( {r - w} \right)^{2}}{320}\pi}}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}3} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

By solving Mathematical Expression 2 and Mathematical Expression 3 forw, the following Mathematical Expression 4 (MATH 4) is obtained:

$\begin{matrix}{w = {\frac{3666.9}{\alpha_{2}}\left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - \frac{1}{x_{2}^{2}}} \right)}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}4} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Also, by solving Mathematical Expression 2 and Mathematical Expression 4for y₁, the following Mathematical Expression 5 (MATH 5) is obtained:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{y_{1} = {\alpha_{2}\left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - {2.6773 \times 10^{- 6} \times \left( {r - w^{2}} \right)} + \left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - \frac{1}{x_{2}^{2}}} \right)} \right.}} \\{= {{\alpha_{2}\left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - {2.6773 \times 10^{- 6} \times \left( {r - {\frac{3666.9}{\alpha_{2}}\left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - \frac{1}{x_{2}^{2}}} \right)}} \right)^{2}}} \right)} + \left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - \frac{1}{x_{2}^{2}}} \right)}}\end{matrix} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}5} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Each time the medicine packaging sheet S is unwound by the predeterminedamount, i.e., 80 mm, the photo sensor 24 a gives a count value, which isthen used to substitute the items x₂ and α₂ in Mathematical Expression 5to obtain y₁. From the ongoing collection of values of y₁, an averagevalue of the latest hundred, for example, is utilized to calculate aremaining package quantity as of the reference time-point. Then, fromthis average value of the hundred y₁'s, subtraction is made based onα₂+1 packages which is a value obtained by adding one to thefinished-package count α₂, to obtain an estimated value for a currentremaining package quantity (remaining package quantity in State (D) inFIG. 12D). It should be noted here that in case the diameter r (mm) ofthe core tube 201, which is found in Mathematical Expression 5, ischanged at a future time, then the new value is simply put inMathematical Expression 5. Core tube dimensional information such as thediameter r may be stored in the core tube IC tag 202, or may be storedin the memory 55. The core tube outer diameter may be represented by aninner diameter of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200. In other words,using the inner diameter of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 isequivalent to using the core tube outer diameter.

[Obtaining Relationship between Remaining Sheet Amount and Count ValueThereupon]

At a given time point, the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 has apackaging sheet remaining length of Y (mm); the core tube 201 has acircumference of R (mm), and the packaging sheet S has a sheet thicknessof w (mm): Then, the remaining length of the packaging sheet S can beinterpreted as an addition of circumferences coaxially laminated in nlayers, and this is given by Mathematical Expression 6 (MATH 6).

$\begin{matrix}{Y = {{R + \left( {R + {2\pi w}} \right) + \left( {R + {4\pi w}} \right) + {\ldots\ldots} + \left( {R + {2\pi{w\left( {n - 1} \right)}}} \right)} = {\frac{n\left( {R + R + {2\pi{w\left( {n - 1} \right)}}} \right.}{2} = {n\left( {R + {\left( {n - 1} \right)\pi w}} \right)}}}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}6} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

By solving the MATH for n, Mathematical Expression 7 (MATH 7) isobtained.

$\begin{matrix}{n = \frac{{\pi w} - R + \sqrt{\left( {\left( {R - {\pi w}} \right)^{2} + {4\pi{wY}}} \right.}}{2\pi w}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}7} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

As the core tube 201 makes one complete turn, the photo sensor 24 aoutputs a count value of 24; so when the unwound sheet length is 80mm, acount value x as the output from the photo sensor 24 a is given byMathematical Expression 8 (MATH 8).

$\begin{matrix}{x = {24 \times \left( \frac{80}{R + {2\pi{nw}}} \right)}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}8} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

By placing Mathematical Expression 7 into Mathematical Expression 8,Mathematical Expression 9 (MATH 9) is obtained.

$\begin{matrix}{x = {24 \times \left( \frac{80}{{\pi w} + \sqrt{\left( {R - {\pi w}} \right)^{2} + {4\pi{wY}}}} \right)}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}9} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

By raising the both sides to the second power and then re-arranging,Mathematical Expression 10 (MATH 10) is obtained. A reason whyapproximation like in MATH 10 is possible is that the sheet thickness w(mm) of the packaging sheet S is small enough as compared to thecircumference R (mm) of the core tube 201 and the packaging sheetremaining length Y (mm) of the sheet tube.

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{\frac{3.6864 \times 10^{6}}{x^{2}} = \left( {{\pi w} + \sqrt{\left( {R - {\pi w}} \right)^{2} + {4\pi{wY}}}} \right)^{2}} \\{\approx {\left( {R - {\pi w}} \right)^{2} + {4\pi{wY}}}}\end{matrix} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}10} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

With further rearrangement by using r=R/π (core tube diameter [mm]) andY=80y, then Mathematical Expression 11 (MATH 11) is obtained.

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{3.6864 \times 10^{6}}{x^{2}} = {{\left( {r - w} \right)^{2}\pi^{2}} + {320\pi{wy}}}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}11} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Then, from Mathematical Expression 11, Mathematical Expression 1 isobtained. Although Mathematical Expression 10 obtained as above is anapproximate expression, there is no limitation that the expression mustbe such an approximate expression as described above. Therefore, thereis no limitation, either, to Mathematical Expression 1 or any otherexpressions which are obtained from Mathematical Expression 10. Also, inthe above, description was made for a case where the count value givenas an output from the photo sensor 24 a when the core tube 201 makes onecomplete turn is 24; the count value given as an output from the photosensor 24 a when sheet unwinding is made by a length of 80 mm is x; andthe length of one package is 80 mm. In a case where the count valuegiven as an output from the photo sensor 24 a when the core tube 201makes one complete turn is g; the count value given as an output fromthe photo sensor 24 a when sheet unwinding is made by a length of h mmis x; and the length of one package is j mm, the sheet thickness (w) andthe remaining package quantity y₁ at the reference time-point are givenas follows:

$\begin{matrix}{w = {\frac{({gh})^{2}}{4{\pi\alpha}_{2}j}\left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - \frac{1}{x_{2}^{2}}} \right)}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}12} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{y_{1} = {{\alpha_{2}\left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - \frac{\left( {r - w} \right)^{2}\pi^{2}}{({gh})^{2}}} \right)} \div \left( {\frac{1}{x_{1}^{2}} - \frac{1}{x_{2}^{2}}} \right)}} & \left\lbrack {{MATH}13} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Referring next to FIG. 11 , an explanatory view illustrating differentsteps performed by the controller 5 in relation to the packaging sheetremaining amount estimation process is shown.

Upon receiving an electric power (S21), the controller 5 readsinformation from the core tube IC tag 202. If the obtained informationindicates that a reference time-point count value is not yet obtained,then the process goes to a reference time-point detection preparationstep (S22 ); if the information indicates that a reference time-pointcount value is already obtained but remaining amount calculationinformation is not, then the process goes to a remaining amountcalculation information collection step (S24); and if a referencetime-point count value is already obtained and remaining amountcalculation information is also already obtained, then the process goesto a remaining amount calculation updating step (S25).

The reference time-point detection preparation step (S22) is a stepwhich is started after the power supply is turned on (S21) or after theprocess is resumed from a no-more-sheet WARNING. In the referencetime-point detection preparation step, each time the packaging sheet Sis unwound by a predetermined amount, i.e., 80 mm, a count value as anoutput from the photo sensor 24 a is obtained; and if the latest countvalue is not different by two or any greater value from the previousvalue for, e.g., forty times, then it is determined that the apparatusis ready and the process moves to a reference time-point detection step(S23). During the reference time-point detection preparation step, noinformation for detecting the remaining sheet amount is written to thecore tube IC tag 202. Having described as above, the referencetime-point detection preparation step (S22) may even be omitted.

In the reference time-point obtaining step (S23), a count value as anoutput from the photo sensor 24 a is obtained each time the packagingsheet S is unwound by 80 mm, for a total of, e.g., nineteen times. Anaverage value (or a mode value) of these is selected to be a count valueat, e.g., the tenth cycle, and also to be a count value (A) as an outputfrom the photo sensor 24 a at a reference time-point, and then thiscount value (A) is written to the core tube IC tag 202. The process thenmoves to the packaging sheet remaining amount calculation informationcollection step (S24). If, however, the count value as an output fromthe photo sensor 24 a differs by two or by a greater value as comparedto the previous value during the above-described nineteen cycles ofobtaining a count value, then the reference time-point detectionpreparation step (S22) is performed again. In the case where theabove-described average value is utilized as the tenth count value, theprocess will use the number “10” as a finished-package count, includingone package made in the tenth cycle, from the reference time-point basedon the above-described fact that a total of nineteen sheet slips areused.

In the packaging sheet remaining amount calculation informationcollection step (S24), a count value (B) as an output from the photosensor 24 a is obtained each time the packaging sheet S is unwound bythe length of 80 mm. Using this count value (B), a count value (A) atthe reference time-point, a finished-package count from the referencetime-point, and the diameter r of the core tube 201, a calculation ismade to obtain a remaining sheet amount as of the reference time-point.The calculation result is stored in the memory 55. When a set of hundredcount values (B) (including the nine values in the above-described case)are obtained, the process moves to the remaining amount calculationupdating step (S25). Also, the hundred count values (B) are written tothe core tube IC tag 202. Although it is possible to write a remaininglength, for example, to the core tube IC tag 202 as an indicator of theremaining sheet amount to be written, the count values (B) are used heredue to a capacity limitation of the core tube IC tag 202.

In the remaining amount calculation updating step (S25), a count value(B) as an output from the photo sensor 24 a is obtained each time thepackaging sheet S is unwound by the length of 80 mm; and a remainingsheet amount as of the reference time-point is calculated. At thisstage, the latest one hundred count values (B) are available tocalculate a hundred values for the reference time-point remaining sheetamount. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an average value thereof,and then subtract the finished-package count α₂ from the obtainedaverage, to get a latest remaining sheet amount calculation result. Eachtime the remaining sheet amount is calculated, the oldest of the hundredremaining sheet amount calculation results stored in the memory 55 isoverwritten by the latest calculation result. Likewise, in the core tubeIC tag 202, the oldest count value (B) of the hundred count values (B)is overwritten by the latest count value (B). As described further abovewith reference to FIGS. 12A-12D, the reference time-point count value(A) is an amount of rotation of the core tube 201 when one packageamount is unwound at the reference time-point, from a state where thepackaging sheet used amount is P. Therefore, the current amount ofremaining sheet can be estimated more accurately if this one-packageamount is counted: In other words, the remaining sheet amountcalculation result which is given by subtracting the finished-packagecount α₂+1 from the average value is better than the remaining sheetamount calculation result which is given by subtracting thefinished-package count α₂ from the average value.

As has been described, the remaining amount of the medicine packagingsheet S as of the reference time-point is estimated on the basis of thereference time-point count value, the current time-point count value,the finished-package count which is a count from the referencetime-point to the packaging sheet in-use time-point, and the core tubedimensional information. It is not necessary to use the sheet thicknessof the medicine packaging sheet S or the thickness of air layers in thecalculation of the remaining amount. In other words, it is possible toprovide an accurate information on the remaining sheet amount to theuser. It may take some time, however, from the time when the referencetime-point count value is obtained till the time when the value ofremaining sheet amount displayed for the user becomes stable. Duringthis unstable period, the remaining sheet amount to be displayed for theuser may be obtained from a different method: For example, the remainingsheet amount may be determined from the diameter of the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 and the sheet thickness of the packaging sheetS.

When a reference time-point count value is not found in informationwritten in the core tube IC tag 202, the controller 5 obtains a countvalue each time the packaging sheet S is unwound from the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 by a predetermined length (e.g., 80 mm), andrepeats this process until a difference between the current and theprevious count values is within a predetermined range for apredetermined number of times (e.g., forty times), and thereupon movesthe process to a process of obtaining the reference time-point countvalue. Generally, the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 has a tendencythat its outer layers are slackened, the layers of air therebetween donot have a consistent thickness, and the count value tends to vary in awide range. The reference time-point detection preparation stepdescribed above makes it possible to eliminate chances for giving aninaccurate remaining sheet amount calculated from inconsistent values.

Also, the invention prevents inaccurate remaining sheet amount frombeing calculated, because the controller 5 performs, as a process ofobtaining the reference time-point count value, a process of obtaining acount value at a time when the packaging sheet S is unwound from themedicine packaging sheet roll 200 by a predetermined length (e.g., 80mm) and repeats this process a plurality (e.g., nineteen times) oftimes; calculate an average value of these values and make the averageas a count value for a specific measurement timing (e.g., tenth time);and uses this count value of the specific measurement timing as thereference time-point count value.

Embodiments of the present invention prevents inaccurate remaining sheetamount from being calculated in the following way: the controller 5performs a process of obtaining a current time-point count value uponunwinding of the packaging sheet S from the medicine packaging sheetroll 200 by a predetermined length (e.g., 80 mm) and writing theobtained value to the core tube IC tag 202, and may repeats this processfor a single or a plurality of times if the reference time-point countvalue is already written in the core tube IC tag 202 but a currenttime-point count value of a plurality (e.g., 100) of values is not;while obtaining a current time-point count value each time the packagingsheet S in unwound from the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 by apredetermined length and updating the data by overwriting the oldestcurrent time-point count value in the core tube IC tag 202 with thenewly obtained value if the reference time-point count value is alreadywritten in the core tube IC tag 202 and a current time-point count valueof the above-described one or a plurality (e.g., 100) of currenttime-point count value are also written.

In addition, writing to the core tube IC tag 202 is made in the form ofthe count value and not in the form of the remaining sheet amountitself. This provides an advantage that the core tube IC tag 202 neednot necessarily be provided by one having a large memory capacity evenin the case as described earlier where data to be written includes ahundred of data. Further, in a case where the length of one package ischanged from 80 mm to 90 mm for example, a change-over can be madequickly because the count values are already stored.

Another advantage is that because the core tube IC tag 202 stores acurrent time-point count value(s) for the above-described one or aplurality (e.g., 100) of processes, even if the medicine packaging sheetroll 200 is replaced with another during an operation, it is possible toknow a remaining package quantity and a roll diameter of the newlyloaded medicine packaging sheet roll 200 readily from a currenttime-point count value if the core tube IC tag 202 of the newly loadedmedicine packaging sheet roll 200 stores one or a plurality of currenttime-point count value(s). Also, in cases where the DC voltage isapplied to the motor which generates a braking force to rotation of themedicine packaging sheet roll 200 and adjusted based on the rolldiameter of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200, the DC voltage valuecan be readily determined from the roll diameter of the newly attachedmedicine packaging sheet roll 200 without any need for actually rotatingthe roll.

The IC tag 100 of the ink ribbon cassette 3 and the core tube IC tag 202may be provided by two identical components. However, this poses apotential problem if the ink ribbon cassette 3 is placed near the rollsupport section 2, that signals from the IC tag 100 will be received bythe antenna 25 in the roll support section 2. This problem can beavoided by such an arrangement that each of the IC tags is assigned aUID (Unique Item identification) so that the controller 5 performs anerror procedure if it receives a signal accompanied by an UID which isdifferent from the UID of the tag currently communicating with.

The IC tag 100 of the ink ribbon cassette 3 may be provided by adifferent kind from that of the core tube IC tag 202. In this case,signals from the IC tag 100 are not misidentified even if the ink ribboncassette 3 is placed near the roll support section 2. Therefore, even ifthe ink ribbon cassette 3 is placed near the roll support section 2,sheet remaining amount estimation process can be continued without beinginterrupted by error processes.

There may be an arrangement that the controller 5 compares a requirednumber of medicine packages found in prescription data to an availablenumber of packages estimated from the current amount of remaining sheet,and issues a warning if a comparison result is out of an acceptablerange. The acceptable range is set, for example, to satisfy a conditionthat the estimated number of packages based on the current amount ofremaining sheet must be greater than the required number specified themedicine package prescription, by ten or a greater number of packages.The warning may be made by way of character messages displayed in thedisplay section 10, sounds, etc.

The embodiment described thus far discloses a medicine packagingapparatus which includes: a roll support section 2 which has therotating shaft portion 22 to which a core tube 201 of the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 is attached; a rotation amount informationoutputting section (such as the photo sensor 24 a) which outputsrotation amount information representing an amount of rotation of therotating shaft portion 22; an information reading section (such as thewireless reader-writer 26) which writes/reads information to/from astorage medium (such as the core tube IC tag 202) provided in the coretube 201 via an antenna 25 provided in the roll support section 2; aninformation generation section 57 a which generates, as informationwritable to the storage medium, a first rotation amount which is therotation amount information upon unwinding of a predetermined length ofa packaging sheet from the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 which has afirst remaining amount of the packaging sheet, a second rotation amountwhich is the rotation amount information upon unwinding of thepredetermined length of the packaging sheet from the medicine packagingsheet roll 200 which has a second remaining amount of the packagingsheet as a smaller amount than the first amount, and the amount of sheetuse (such as finished-package count α2) which is a difference betweenthe first amount and the second amount; and a remaining sheet amountcalculation section (remaining sheet amount determining section 57)which calculates an amount of remaining sheet after the packaging sheetis unwound by the predetermined length from the medicine packaging sheetroll 200 which had the second remaining amount of packaging sheet, basedon the first rotation amount, the second rotation amount, the amount ofsheet use and dimensional information of the core tube 201.

In the above embodiment, a time point when the first amount existed isexemplified by the reference time-point; a time point when the secondamount existed is exemplified by the packaging sheet in-use time-point;the first rotation amount is exemplified by the reference time-pointcount value; and the second rotation amount is exemplified by thecurrent time-point count value. The controller 5 performs a process ifthe first rotation amount is not yet written to the storage medium (suchas the core tube IC tag 202), and also performs another process if thefirst rotation amount has already been written to the medium.

If the first rotation amount is not yet written to the storage medium,the controller 5 performs a process of obtaining rotation amountinformation upon unwinding of the packaging sheet of the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 by the predetermined length, for a plurality oftimes; compares the latest rotation amount information to the previousrotation amount information; and moves to a process of obtaining thefirst rotation amount if the comparison result continued to be within apredetermined range for a predetermined number of times. As the processof obtaining the first rotation amount, the controller 5 performs aprocess of obtaining rotation amount information upon unwinding of thepackaging sheet of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 by thepredetermined length, for a plurality of times; sets an average value ora mode value thereof as rotation amount information as of apredetermined unwinding timing; and performs a process using thisrotation amount information as of the predetermined unwinding timing asthe first rotation amount. Also, if the first rotation amount is alreadywritten to the storage medium but the second rotation amount, which mayinclude one or a plurality of values for use in calculating theremaining sheet amount, is not yet stored therein, the controller 5performs a process of obtaining the second rotation amount and writingit to the storage medium upon unwinding of the packaging sheet of themedicine packaging sheet roll 200 by the predetermined length, for oneor a plurality of times; and if the first rotation amount is alreadywritten to the storage medium and the second rotation amount, i.e.,which may include one or a plurality of values for use in calculatingthe remaining sheet amount, is also stored therein, the controllerperforms a data updating process of obtaining the second rotation amountand overwriting one or the oldest one of the second rotation amounts inthe storage medium with the newly obtained amount each time thepackaging sheet of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 is unwound bythe predetermined length.

The embodiment described thus far also discloses a medicine packagingsheet remaining amount determination method for a medicine packagingapparatus which packages medicine by one package by using a medicinepackaging sheet roll 200. The method includes: a step of obtaining, froma storage medium (such as the core tube IC tag 202) provided in the coretube 201 of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200, a first rotationamount which is a rotation amount of the core tube 201 of the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 upon unwinding of a predetermined length of apackaging sheet from the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 which has afirst remaining amount of the packaging sheet, a second rotation amountwhich is the rotation amount of the core tube 201 upon unwinding of thepredetermined length of the packaging sheet from the medicine packagingsheet roll 200 which has a second remaining amount of the packagingsheet as a smaller amount than the first amount, and an amount of sheetuse (such as the finished-package count α₂) which is a differencebetween the first amount and the second amount; and a step ofcalculating a remaining sheet amount which is an amount after thepackaging sheet is unwound by the predetermined length from the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 which had the second remaining amount of thepackaging sheet, based on the first rotation amount, the second rotationamount, the amount of sheet use and dimensional information of the coretube.

The rotation amount information as of reference sheet-remaining amounttiming and the first rotation amount may be obtained by performing,e.g., a medicine packaging simulation using a medicine packaging sheetroll 200 when shipping the medicine packaging sheet roll 200. Theobtained values are recorded in the core tube IC tag 202 which isprovided in the core tube 201 of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200.In this case, there is no need, in an actual package making process, forgenerating the rotation amount information as of referencesheet-remaining amount timing and the first rotation amount andrecording these in the core tube IC tag 202. In the above, as the coretube 201 makes one complete turn, a count value as an output from thephoto sensor 24 a becomes “24”. However, this is not limiting at all,and the count value for one complete turn may be greater, for example.If a greater number of counts is used for one complete turn, it willbecome possible to use one specific count value, rather than an averagefor example, of a plurality of count values, to determine the remainingsheet amount.

Thus far, embodiments of the present invention have been described withreference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limitedto these illustrated embodiments. Any of these embodiments illustratedthus far may be modified or changed in many ways within the scope orwithin the equivalence of the present invention. Also, it is possible toobtain a sheet thickness of medicine packaging sheet S from MATH 4 andMATH 12 which were described further above.

In the above description and examples, methods for estimating aremaining amount of the medicine packaging sheet S were described. Thesemethods of estimation may also be used to estimate a remaining amount ofthe ink ribbon.

It should be noted here that the layer of air is thinner on an innerside of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 than on the outer sidethereof; and the same applies also to variation in the layers of air.Hence, as the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 becomes smaller in itsdiameter, the layer of air becomes almost zero or air layer variationbecomes small enough, so the estimated remaining amount of the medicinepackaging sheet S calculated by the medicine packaging apparatus 1becomes increasingly more accurate as the medicine packaging sheet S isbecoming increasingly less in its remaining amount. In particular, theestimation of remaining sheet amount becomes most accurate right beforethe remaining amount of medicine packaging sheet S becomes zero, i.e.,when the remaining amount of medicine packaging sheet S is only onerotation-amount of the core tube 201. Thus, at this point, the apparatuscan appropriately let the user know an end timing of the medicinepackaging sheet S.

However, there may be an arrangement that the medicine packagingapparatus 1 uses the medicine packaging sheet roll 200 until anend-of-sheet sensor 421 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 ) detects a zeroremaining amount of the medicine packaging sheet S regardless of whetheror not the sheet remaining amount estimation section 57 estimates a zeroamount for the current amount of remaining sheet. The end-of-sheetsensor 421 may be provided by an optical sensor, in which a light from alight emitter to a light receiver is blocked by the medicine packagingsheet S unwound from the medicine packaging sheet roll 200. Theend-of-sheet sensor 421 is disposed, for example, near a traveling routeof the medicine packaging sheet roll 200, at a place before the printinghead 4 e as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 . Due to slight dimensionalvariation within the medicine packaging apparatus 1, and environmentalfactors such as temperature, humidity, etc., estimation accuracy by thesheet remaining amount estimation section 57 varies. Consequentlytherefore, the sheet remaining amount estimation section 57 may estimatea current amount of remaining sheet which is smaller or greater than anactual amount. So, there may be an arrangement that a correction step isincluded in the estimation method for forthcoming estimations of currentamount of remaining sheet, based on whether a current amount ofremaining sheet estimated by the sheet remaining amount estimationsection 57 is greater or smaller than an actual amount of remainingsheet.

One method, for example, of detecting whether a current amount ofremaining sheet estimated by the sheet remaining amount estimationsection 57 is greater or smaller than an actual amount of remainingsheet is to determine which of the following events occurs earlier,estimation by the sheet remaining amount estimation section 57 of a zerocurrent amount of remaining sheet or detection by the end-of-sheetsensor 421 of a zero remaining amount of the medicine packaging sheet S.As an example, if the current amount of remaining sheet estimated by thesheet remaining amount estimation section 57 is smaller than the actualamount, then thereafter, an estimated amount of remaining sheet on themedicine packaging sheet roll 200 attached to the medicine packagingapparatus 1 is obtained by using a corrected current amount of remainingsheet which is greater than the originally estimated remaining sheetamount by a predetermined amount. On the other hand, if the currentamount of remaining sheet estimated by the sheet remaining amountestimation section 57 is greater than the actual amount, thenthereafter, the estimated amount of remaining sheet on the medicinepackaging sheet roll 200 attached to the medicine packaging apparatus 1is obtained by using a corrected current amount of remaining sheet whichis smaller than the originally estimated remaining sheet amount by apredetermined amount. The predetermined amount may be set as a lengthrepresenting one or two packages, for example.

As another variation, there may be an arrangement that after anestimation of zero current remaining amount by the sheet remainingamount estimation section 57 or after a detection of zero currentremaining amount by the end-of-sheet sensor 421, the medicine packagingapparatus 1 writes information regarding the medicine packagingapparatus 1 (e.g., information regarding the latest error) to an area inthe core tube IC tag 202 which was used for writing count valuesdetected by the photo sensor 24 a. Writing such information and thencollecting the core tube after the packaging sheet S is finishedprovides a way to learn operating conditions of the medicine packagingapparatus 1, making it possible to provide appropriate maintenance andimprovement to the medicine packaging apparatus 1. The arrangement thatinformation regarding the medicine packaging apparatus 1 is written tothe area in the core tube IC tag 202 which was used to record countvalues detected by the photo sensor 24 a provides an additionaladvantage that an IC tag which has a small storage capacity can be usedas the core tube IC tag 202.

In the present embodiment, the printing and packaging unit 4 has a headshifting motor 408 as shown in FIG. 4 . The head shifting motor 408 hasits rotation shaft provided with an eccentric cam 408 a, and theeccentric cam 408 a makes contact with a linkage member 406. Also, thereis provided a coil spring 409 which pulls the linkage member 406 to beaway from the back-up roller 4 b. As the eccentric cam 408 a rotates,the linkage member 406 moves around the shaft 407 against the urge fromthe coil spring 409. This movement can make two states: a first state inwhich the printing head 4 e and the back-up roller 4 b are separatedfrom each other by an approximate distance of 10 mm for example, and asecond state in which the distance is longer, being about 30 mm.

When a distance changing operation as described above is performed andthe linkage member 406 is moved thereby, the head solenoid 405, which isconnected to the linkage member 406, is also moved with its actuatorplunger also moved. When the head solenoid 405 is turned ON in the firststate, the actuator plunger of the head solenoid 405 presses the linkagemember 406 so the printing head 4 e moves toward the back-up roller 4 b,to press the ink ribbon R onto the medicine packaging sheet S, so thatthe apparatus is ready for printing.

The second state makes it easy to replace the ink ribbon cassette 3 andthe medicine packaging sheet roll 200. Under the second state, however,the printing head 4 e does not press the ink ribbon R of the ink ribboncassette 3. This can often slacken the ink ribbon R, causing it toelectrostatically stick onto the medicine packaging sheet S. This makesit difficult to replace the medicine packaging sheet roll 200, andduring the replacement, the ink ribbon R can catch the medicinepackaging sheet S of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200. If thishappens, the ink ribbon R is wastefully pulled out.

In order to solve this problem, under the second state, the windingmotor 401 is turned to rotate the winding core 32 of the ink ribboncassette 3 thereby winding the slackened portion of the ink ribbon R toeliminate slack in the ink ribbon R. Although the slackened portion ofthe ribbon has a generally constant length, the ink ribbon R which iswound around the winding core 32 in the form of a roll changes adiameter of the roll, and therefore an amount of the ink ribbon R whichis wound by one complete rotation of the winding core 32 is notconstant.

In the present embodiment, when rotationally driving the winding motor401 to wind the slackened amount (e.g. 3 cm or other predeterminedamount), the controller 5 uses a value of the used length of the inkribbon R which is read from the IC tag 100. In other words, thecontroller 5 uses the used length of the ink ribbon R to obtain acurrent winding diameter of the ink ribbon roll 30 at the currenttime-point; uses this diameter to calculate a necessary rotation angleof the winding motor 401 to wind the slackened portion of the ink ribbonR, and drives the winding motor 401 by this rotation angle.

Additionally, there may be an arrangement that when the printing andpackaging unit 4 is pulled out of an apparatus main body, this removalis detected by the detection switch 422 (see FIG. 1 ), and the apparatusis brought into the second state. In this case, the apparatus moves intothe second state automatically, without requiring a switching operationby the operator. The ink ribbon cassette 3 and the medicine packagingsheet roll 200 may be disposed at positions indicated in imaginary linesin FIG. 1 . In this case, the printing and packaging unit 4 is drawable,and also is pivotable around a vertical axis, and in such a case asthis, an arrangement may be, for example, that shift to the second stateis performed if one of the drawing movement and the pivoting movement isdetected by, e.g., the detection switch 422.

However, if the apparatus moves into the second state and winds the inkribbon R every time the detection is made for, e.g., the printing andpackaging unit 4 being pulled out, an amount of waste in the ink ribbonR will increase.

To solve this problem, the controller 5 brings the apparatus into thesecond state and winds the ink ribbon R only upon determination that theink ribbon roll 30 is already used up to an end of the ink ribbon or themedicine packaging sheet roll 200 is already used up to an end of thesheet at the time when the printing and packaging unit 4 is detected tobe pulled out for example. It should be noted here that the ink ribbon Rwound around the ink ribbon roll 30 has its rear end portion formed witha light reflecting region for a predetermined length. The controller 5determines that the ink ribbon R is finished when an unillustratedoptical sensor detects the light reflecting region. Also, the controller5 determines that the packaging sheet S is finished, based on an outputfrom the end-of-sheet sensor 421.

For example, the controller 5 performs a printing head move-awayoperation if the printing and packaging unit 4 is pulled or pivoted outof the apparatus main body. In the printing head move-away operation,the controller 5 determines, as shown in FIG. 13 , whether or not thepackaging sheet S is finished (Step S31). If it is determined that thepackaging sheet S is finished, then the controller 5 brings theapparatus to the second state and removes a slack in the ink ribbon(Step S34). On the other hand, if it is determined that the packagingsheet S is not yet finished, then a determination is made on whether ornot the ink ribbon R is finished (Step S32).

If it is determined that the ink ribbon R is finished, then thecontroller 5 bring the apparatus into the second state and removes aslack in the ink ribbon (Step S34). In this case, there is very littleremainder in the ink ribbon R, so the process may be designed to wind asmuch of the ink ribbon R as possible. On the other hand, if it isdetermined that the ink ribbon R is not yet finished, then thecontroller 5 checks if it is possible to read the UID of the core tubeIC tag 202 with the wireless reader-writer 26 (Step S33). If it isimpossible to read the UID of the core tube IC tag 202, then thecontroller brings the apparatus into the second state and removes aslack in the ink ribbon (Step S34). When the medicine packaging sheetroll 200 is being replaced with another, it becomes impossible to readUID of the core tube IC tag 202 because the core tube 201 is removedfrom the rotating shaft portion 22.

If the UID of the core tube IC tag 202 is obtained, then the printinghead move-away operation is brought to an end. It should be noted herethat in the present embodiment, the process keeps checking if the UID ofthe core tube IC tag 202 can be read, until the process detects that theprinting and packaging unit 4 is set into the apparatus main body. Upondetection that the printing and packaging unit 4 is returned into theapparatus main body, then the printing head move-away operation isbrought to an end.

As described further above, the apparatus is brought into the secondstate and a slack in the ink ribbon R is removed only when it isdetermined that there is a possibility that the ink ribbon roll 30 orthe medicine packaging sheet roll 200 will be replaced. Therefore, it ispossible to drastically reduce waste of the ink ribbon R as compared toan arrangement that a winding operation is performed to remove a slackevery time the printing and packaging unit 4 is moved.

The determination made in Step S34 may be replaced by a determinationbased on an output from a dedicated sensor (such as a sensor fordetecting the strong magnetic member 201 c) which is providedspecifically for detection of whether or not the core tube 201 isremoved from the rotating shaft portion 22. In other words, there may bean arrangement that the controller 5 determines that there is apossibility for a replacement of the medicine packaging sheet roll 200when the dedicated sensor has detected that the core tube 201 is removedfrom the rotating shaft portion 22.

It should be noted here that when removing the slack in the ink ribbon Rby winding the ink ribbon R, braking should be applied onto thesupply-side support shaft 41 by means of the clutch 41 a. Also, afterthe replacement of, e.g., the medicine packaging sheet roll 200, theprinting and packaging unit 4 is returned into the apparatus main bodyby way of pivoting or other movement. This movement should be detectedby, e.g., the detection switch 422, so that the controller 5 drives thehead shifting motor 408 to change from the second state to the firststate.

Upon changing from the second state to the first state, the printinghead 4 e presses the ink ribbon R which is already under a tension sinceall slack has been removed in the second state. If the clutch 41 a isstill braking on the supply-side support shaft 41 at this time, the inkribbon R can become unbearable to the tension and be torn.

To avoid this, in the present embodiment, the braking by the clutch 41 ato the supply-side support shaft 41 is disengaged when changing from thesecond state to the first state. This prevents the damage to the inkribbon R reliably.

While the principles of the disclosure have been described above inconnection with specific apparatuses, it is to be clearly understoodthat this description is made only by way of example and not aslimitation on the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination of a medicine packaging apparatusand a medicine packaging sheet roll having a core tube provided with astorage medium, the medicine packaging apparatus comprising: a rotationamount information outputting section for an output of rotation amountinformation as an indication of a rotation amount of a rotating shaftportion to which the medicine packaging sheet roll is attached; aninformation reading section for writing information to and reading thewritten information from the storage medium provided inside the coretube of the medicine packaging sheet roll; an information generationsection for generating, as information writable to the storage medium,based on the rotation amount information output from the rotation amountinformation outputting section: rotation amount information as ofreference sheet-remaining amount timing which is the rotation amountinformation upon unwinding of a packaging sheet by a predeterminedlength from the medicine packaging sheet roll attached to the rotatingshaft portion at a reference time-point; one or a plural pieces ofrotation amount information as of individual current sheet-remainingamount obtaining timings each of which is the rotation amountinformation upon unwinding of the packaging sheet by the predeterminedlength from the medicine packaging sheet roll at a packaging sheetin-use time-point after the reference time-point; and an amount of sheetuse from the reference time-point through the packaging sheet in-usetime-point; and a remaining sheet amount estimation section forestimation of a current amount of remaining sheet based on the rotationamount information as of reference sheet-remaining amount timing, therotation amount information as of individual current sheet-remainingamount obtaining timing, the amount of sheet use from the referencetime-point through the packaging sheet in-use time-point, anddimensional information of the core tube.
 2. A combination of a medicinepackaging apparatus and a medicine packaging sheet roll having a coretube provided with a storage medium, the medicine packaging apparatuscomprising: a roll support section including a rotating shaft portion towhich the core tube of the medicine packaging sheet roll is attached; arotation amount information outputting section for an output of rotationamount of the rotating shaft portion; an information generation sectionfor generation of: a first rotation amount upon unwinding of apredetermined length of a packaging sheet from the medicine packagingsheet roll which has a first remaining amount of the packaging sheet; asecond rotation amount upon unwinding of the predetermined length of thepackaging sheet from the medicine packaging sheet roll which has asecond remaining amount of the packaging sheet, the second remainingamount being a smaller amount than the first amount; and an amount ofsheet use which is a difference between the first amount and the secondamount; a communications section which writes/reads informationgenerated by the information generation section to/from the storagemedium provided in the core tube; and a remaining sheet amountcalculation section for calculation of an amount of remaining sheetafter the packaging sheet is unwound by the predetermined length fromthe medicine packaging sheet roll which has the second remaining amountof packaging sheet, based on information read by the communicationssection and dimensional information of the core tube.